Op-Ed: First a little history - Social Security was re-branded as a welfare hand out some years ago and claimants derided. Invalidity benefit became incapacity benefit but rules changes. The so-called dole was also re-branded and cut so that it was only paid for six months. There then followed a push to assess incapacity claimants as fit for work or not. It was of course going to be cheaper and cost effective for the government to shift claimants over to the dole which paid less and for a short period of time. A medical assessment may decide that in spite of your condition or disabilities you could answer a phone for example and therefore you are fit for work.

Further negative changes have led the country to where it is today and the damning story of "16-year-old Edward Bright, of Ripley, Derbys, [who] lost all four limbs to meningitis [and] is threatened with having his Personal Independence Payment stopped."

The Daily Mirror report continues "Edward Bright lost his arms and legs to meningitis, aged seven, and his family have since claimed £388-a-month Disability Living Allowance on his behalf."

Whether or not that sounds a lot of money to you depends on your personal circumstances and is really immaterial but bear in mind the special needs of this young man who is a quadruple amputee.

Some benefits are assessed as lifelong but for the current Tory government there is no such thing as lifelong. The goalposts are moved and rules and regulations tweaked, removed and distorted so that what you are paying into or have paid into over many years of working is unclear.

The DWP, department of works and pensions, problem for Edward Bright and his family came when he turned 16 recently. This meant he had to make a new claim for his Personal Independence Payment, which has replaced DLA.

Instead of the new claim simply being signed off he was told he had to attend a face-to-face meeting or risk losing his benefits.

“It isn’t like he’s going to get better. He isn’t going to suddenly grow new arms and legs. We were shocked to be asked to attend the meeting.

“They know full well the extent of his disabilities. They have no hearts.”

Mum Clare, of Ripley, Derbys, added: “We assumed his case would be treated as exceptional given the fact he has had his legs and arms amputated.

“So we were horrified and disgusted to get the letter saying he needed to do the assessment.

The letter sent to Edward Bright from DWP which asks him to attend a meeting to assess his Independent Living Fund.

“They wanted him to go to Derby and even gave instructions on how to walk to the office from the station. He’s in a wheelchair waiting for an operation in April. He can’t walk. It’s a shambles.”

Clare, 46, who is separated from Steve, rang and complained to Capita – the firm that assesses ­claimants for the Government.

Bosses then backtracked and arranged for staff to visit Edward’s home to carry out the assessment.

But he still faces an assessment and what will the outcome be?

A great deal of taxpayer money is being spent on overhauling Social Security. With some benefits rebranded and others scrapped it is a minefield for claimants especially those who are vulnerable.

Edward has a family who will speak out for him adding to his voice but others do not even have that.

The first firm appointed to carry out health assessments was foreign fiirm ATOS and they were quickly branded heartless. ATOS were replaced but Capita it seems are no better.

Iain Duncan Smith made it his political ambition and mission to remove people from benefits and it is up to you to decide why. He has cost the country a small fortune trying to fulfil than ambition and caused a great deal of hurt along the way.

In August the Guardian reported "Thousands have died after being found fit for work, DWP figures show - Campaigners demand welfare overhaul after statistics reveal 2,380 people died between 2011 and 2014 shortly after being declared able to work."

[For the record the man behind the infamous bedroom tax Iain Duncan Smith lives rent-free in a £2million aristocratic country house… with at least FOUR spare bedrooms. He is a tenant of the landed gentry Fremantle family. He has no rent or mortgage to pay. The 16th-century Tudor house on a sprawling estate in Buckinghamshire originally had five bedrooms but has had wings added down the centuries. With a swimming pool, tennis courts and set in acres of countryside, it’s a far-cry from the social housing his bedroom tax victims live in - Daily Mirror]

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